Laundry machine with improved balancing mechanism



Sept' 27, 1966 G. R. sEvERANcl-z ETAL 3,275,146

LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH IMPROVED BALANCING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMay 1, 1964 Sept 27,` 1956 G. R. sEvERANcE ETAL 3,275,146

LAUNDRY MACHINE WITH IMPROVED BALANCING MECHANISM Filed May 1, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNE Ys Unted States Patent O 3,275,146 LAUNDRY MACHINEWITH IMPROVED BALANCING MECHANISM Glen R. Severance, Benton Harbor, andKeith D. Salis bury, St. Joseph, Mich., assignors to WhirlpoolCorporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May1, 1964, Ser. No. 364,114

17 Claims. (Cl. 210-144) The present invention relates to laundryapparatus and more particularly concerns improvements in the balancinglmechanism for washer-dryers.

In washer-dryers of the horizontal aXis drum type, it is desirable tohave the rotative cylinder speed during eX- traction -as high aspracticable. However, any unbalanced condition in the load within thedrum causes serious vibration conditions. Means for overcoming any suchimbalance and vibration have been disclosed and claimed in theapplication of Albert D. Ishoy and William F. Scott, Serial No. 128,070filed July 31, 1961 now Patent 3,151,067 and assigned to the sameassignee as the present application. In that application control meansare provided operatively connected between the rotative drum or basketmounting means and the support means of the lmachine including arelatively thin leaf spring member which is alternately placed intension and compression to control Water balancing and clutch controlfunctions. With that arrangement, however, careful installationadjustment is required in order to assure proper operation. In otherwords, the -linkage aorded by the leaf spring must be properly adjustedat the particular installation, rather than preadjusted at the factory.

According to the objects of the present invention, new and improvedmeans are provided for connecting the drum or basket mounting means andthe relatively stationary part of the machine support or frame which canbe fully assembled and adjusted at the factory and which will beself-adjustable to meet installation conditions automatically.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel self-centering meansin an acceleration control system for use with counterbalance controlmeans.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improvedsef-centering means to prevent excessive, damaging motion to thebalancing mechanism of a washer-dryer combination.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a laundry machine of thewasher-dryer type embodying principles of the present invention, butwith the outer cabinet removed and with parts broken away, and partiallyschematic;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic representation of certain hydrauliccircuitryV incorporated in the illustrated machine;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view disclosing inbetter detail the sensing mechanism for controlling the loadcounterbalancing means and transmission speed ratio means of the machineand embodying the new and improved device of this invention forpreventing excessive damaging motion to the balancing means of thesensing mechanism; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken onsubstantially the line IV-IV of FIG- URE 3.

In FIGURE 1 is depicted a representative domestic laundry appliance inthe form of a combination washerdryer 5 including a substantiallyimperforate casing 7 3,275,146 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 having attachedto its front wall as by means of welding or the like a supporting place8 secured as by means of screws 9 to a bracket plate 10 attached xedlyto a base frame 11 of a housing 12 supported by front legs 13 and a rearleg 14 and adapted, as is well known, to be adice justed for levellingthe machine in service. Suitable supporting bracket structure alsoconnects the `rear portion of the casing 7 to the base frame 11.

Within the casing 7 is rotatably mounted on a front-torear horizontalaxis a perforate drum or cylinder 15, also sometimes referred to as arotary basket, Vfor receiving fabrics to be washed and centrifugaliydried. In its front wall the drum 15 has a central opening 17 whichregisters with a` suitable access opening in the casing 7 adapted to beclosed by an openable closure or door (not shown). In its rear wall, thedrum 15 is provided with angularly spaced reinforcing ribs 18 radiatingfrom a hub 19 from which extends rearwardly a shaft 20 suitablyjournalled in a supporting bearing assembly of any preferredconstruction. Driving of the drum 15 rotatably is effected V in anypreferred or known manner as motivated by a prime mover comprising anelectrical motor 21 under the control of any preferred cycling controlsystem, as is known in this art. In such a system, the machine isoperated through a program including washing, rinsing, extracting anddrying periods.

In the bottom of the casing 7 is a sump 22 (FIG. 2) for receiving iluidsin the washing, rinsing and extraction operations of the lmachine cycle.Communicating with the sump is a pump 23 delivering to a two-way valve24 for directing uid either to drain or a second two-way valve 25. Thelatter valve may direct washing fluid through a conduit 27 in arecirculating cycle to the drum 15 by way of a recirculation nozzle (notshown). The valve 25 may also selectively direct fluid through `aconduit 28 having its discharge end porttion (FIGS. l and 3) attached toa bracket plate 29 mounted on the outer side of the front wall of lthetank casing 7 over an opening 30 therein and secured thereto as by meansof screws 31 and Y expansion nuts 32, with a gasket 33 providing aliquidtight seal between the casing wall and the bracket member (FIG.4).

On the bracket plate 29, the conduit 2S terminates in a nozzle portion34 which discharges through a port 35 at the inner side of .the bracketplate and through the opening 30 to direct liquid through a limited sizeopening 36 in a splash and deector plate 37'mounted on the inner side ofthe front wall of the tank casing 7 in alignment with the opening 30 andbetween the tank frontwall and the adjacent front wall of the basketdrum 15. This liquid delivered through thesplash plate opening 36 isutilized for balancing the drum 15 and for this purpose is received inrespective collector segments 38 of which there are in the presentinstance three of equal size mounted on the front wall of the drum andeach of which has associated therewith recess means in the form of aliquid-receiving balancing receptacle 39 mounted on the perimeter of thedrum. Through this arrangement,

when balancing is required as when there is an un-V balanced load in therotating drum 15, liquid delivered by the conduit 28 ythrough the nozzle34 and directed into the appropriate balancing receptacle 39 will effectsubstantial balancingof the drum. This is especially desirable duringthe `iuid extraction portion of the machine cycle.

In order to control the introduction of balancing liquid into thebalancing receptacles 39, there is utilized as a controlling variable,vibratory movements of the basket drum 15 and the tank casing 7generated by rotation of acentric loads in the drum and relative to thebase frame 11, as permitted by the means mounting the casing 7. To thisend, a water diverter flag, stream interrupter or deorder ofabout 0.010inch from a normal centered position relative to a stationary uprightframe member 41, the dellector comprises a plate member of substantiallength with a free end portion in controlling relation to the port 35`and an opposite end portion secured as by means of a screw 42 to oneend of a spindle shaft 43 journalled by means such as needle bearings 44through a hub 45 on the bracket plate 291. Suitable sealing meansincluding a washer 47 and a fluid seal 48 are providedrabout Vthe shaft43 at the inner end of the hub 45 and a liner,

, bushing l49.

ment 38 for loading the balancing receptacle 39 generally opposite the-unblancing load. For this purpose, the outer end portion of the shaft43 carries on a preferably re-.

duced diameter, defining a stepped shoulder 50, a motiontransmissionmechanism 51 interconnected with or coupled to theupstanding stationary pylon-like frame mem-- ber 41 by means of a rigidlink arm 52 serving as'a re-` action member. As lthe mounting housingplate memat that moment in the revolution of the drumI 15, WhileY 4notches on a pinion 62 forming part of the transmission mechanism.Through this arrangement, since the rigid arm 52 is held againstreciprocations by virtue of its mounting on the stationary frame member41, when the transmission mechanism 51 is caused to move in a generallyhorizontally oscillatory path with oscillationsl of the drum and tank,the pinion 62 will ride along the Vrack portion of the arm 52 foreffecting corresponding rotary movement of the shaft 43 and thusswinging of the liquid diverter ag 40. Inasmuch as Voscillatory movementof the tank casing 7 toward the left as viewed in FIGURES i l and 3 iscaused by the unbalanced load being at the left the balancing device isAmounted on the right-hand side ber 29 oscillates with the tank casing 7,the coupling arm 52 held against such oscillation through its mountingon the stationary frame member 41. causes the motion transmissionmechanism 51 to effect corresponding oscillatory rotations of thebalancing liquid control flag shaft 43.

. In alconvenient construction, the Ypylon frame member 41 may beconstructed as a suitably reinforced plate having its lower'end portionsecured as'by means Vof screws 53 `to the supporting base frame 11, witha lanced and struck-out lapping stabilizer flange 54 on the pylon framemember gripping the contiguous base frame bar. On its head end portion,which is suitably adjacently disposed in spaced relation to the mountingplate 29, means are provided for mounting the coupling arm 52,` compris-Y ing a pivot 55 on which the arm is pivotally secured with a short rearend portion of the arm having suitably at-V tached thereto as by meansof a suitably notched lug 57 a hooked end portion of a coiledtensionspring 58 which has its opposite hooked end suitably att-ached tothe frame member 41' as `to a struck-out integral lug 59 thereon.Through this arrangement, the coupling arm 52 is nor,- mally resilientlybiased in a clockwise direction as viewedY in FIGURES l and 3 tomaintain the longer portion of the arm Vfirmly but yieldably yin coupledrelation'to the motion transmission mechanism 51.. t According to thepresent invention, a projection and notch coupling relationship between`the transmissionk mechanism 51 and the arm 52 is aiorded. In the presentinstance, this comprises mating projections and notches on both of thestructures effecting the coupling, an advantageous constructionproviding'a suitable 'seriesk of rack teeth 60 providing projectionswith intervening notches on one edge, herein the upper edge, of the freeend portion of the arm 52 meshing with complementary gear teeth 61providing projections and intervening of thetank casing, the arrangementis such that swinging Y of thediverter flag 40 to uncover the balancingliquid derk livery nozzle orice 35 occurs only during such left-handoscillatory motion, that is, motion away from the stationary pylon framemember 41 wherein the transmission pinion 62 running along the rackteeth 60` causes the shaft 43 to rotate counterclockwise and swing theilang 40 to-Y ward non-blocking rela-tion to the -nozzle orice 35.3 Thereverse action is effected in the balancing control mechanism duringoscillating movements of the tank casing 7 toward the right, and towardthe stationary pylon frame member 41. The width and relation of thediverter flag 40 to the nozzle orifice 35 are such that although theflag 40 is swung clockwise during such right-hand oscillating movementof the tank casing the flag will remain in blocking, diverting relationto the orifice. As a result, balancing liquid is, in effect, squirtedinto the balancing re-l ceptacle or receptacles 39 generally opposite tothe acentric'load in each revolution of the drum 15 during which theunbalanced relationship persists and until a substantially balancedcondition has been attained. Normal slight side-to-side` vibrations donot effect suicient swinging movement of the diverter flag 40 to permitescape of balancing liquid therepast into the balancing system of thedrum, although the balancing mechanismdoes permit sufficiently closeadjustment to attain highly eicient balancing and close to eliminationof unbalancing effects of even maximum loading of the drum 15.

Means are provided enabling bench adjustment `of the balancing meohansimat the .factory and avoiding any need 'for further adjustment` or anyservicing of thebal-:

ancing mechanism when installed for service and 'also ,to

the tarnsmission mechanism 51 includes an overload'release clutch andovertravel stop device including a clutch i plate disk ange 63 carryinga fractionalfacing 64A frictionally grippingly opposing a complementaryfriction facing 65 on an opposing clutch plate 67 engaged xedly on thereduced diameter outer end portion of the shaft 43 against the shoulder50. l An integral radiallyY extending limit finger 68 on the clutchplate 67 hasits free end Y to have the pointer-like limit finger 68slightly uncentered ment of the motion transmission mechanism.

portion between a pair of stop lug anges 69 which are Y in predeterminedspaced relation and are integral with a t mounting plate 70 having lanarcuate transverse slot 71 receiving attaching screws r72 by which theplate isl se`v cured in adjusted relation on the mounting bracket` plate29. VIn the` initial adjustment, with the liquid diverter flag 40properly oriented .with respect to the nozzle'orifice 35, the stop lugs69 4are adjustablyk relatedto and secured in the space between thel-ugs.

Although the' balance mechanism is adjusted at `the factory, thisadjustmentV may be altered by the moving of the mac 'ne and thedifference in the important feature of this invention is in Itheself-adjust- This se1f` adjustment 1s accomphsheld` during the tumblingof the 4clothes during the washing and rinsing periods prior: to

positioning of the: base frame 11 when installed in the home;therefore,` an

the centrifugal extraction period. As the cylinder rotates in theclockwise direction, Vthe clothes are picked up and carried into theupper left quadrant and dropped into the lower right quadrant. Theclothes are in the undistributed condition during the tumblingoperation; therefore, a side-to-side oscillatory motion is imparted tothe tank casing 7 due to the tumbling load. The limit finger 68 ispositioned so that it is slightly to the left of the center line of thespace between the legs 69. Having the limit finger 68 positioned in thismanner allows for the difference in the amplitude of movement of thepointer in each direction due to the impact of the clothes during thetumbling. Since the impact of the clothes in the lower right quadrantcauses a motion of the tank casing 7 to the right more than to the left,the limit finger 68 will oscillate further to the right than to the leftwithin the space between the lugs 69.

If the mechanism is misaligned by moving the machine or by a severe obalance load, the oscillation of the, finger 68 against t-he stop lugs69 during the tumbling operation will cause the automatic positioning offinger 68 and thereby accomplish a self-adjustment.

By having the slot 71 substantially conformed to a segment of a circleconcentric with the axis of the shaft 43 and located on the radius ofsuch a circle, any lateral adjustment as permitted within the range ofthe slot 71 in relation to the securing screws 72 will present the stopsurfaces of the lugs 69 substantially square t-o the limit finger 68 foreicient limit abutment with minimum stress or wear.

For overload clutch slippage, the combination pinion clutch member 62,63 is provided with a concentric bearing bore 73 therethrough throughwhich is received a journal stud 74 mounted to project concentricallyfrom the outer end of the shaft 43. To maintain the clutch plate flange63 in normally clutching grip of its friction clutch facing 64 with thefriction clutch facing 65 of the clutch and motion limiting member 67,axial thrust biasing means are provided, desirably comprising a thrustwasher 75 bearing against the outer end of the pinion 62 and carried byan outer end portion of the stud 74 which Y projects sutiiciently beyondthe washer to receive thereon adjustable compression means convenientlycomprising a wave spring washer 77 clampingly thrust with adjustablepressure against the thust washer 75 by means of a nut 78 threaded ontothe outer end portion of the stud 74 and adapted to be locked in anyincrementally adjusted position as by means of a set screw 79. Throughthis arrangement, clutch pressure is suitably adjusted to maintain anormal working coupling between the pinion 62 and the balancing controlag shaft 43, but should there be lany overtravel of the pinion 62 withrespect to the range of iiag shaft oscillations permitted by the limitfinger 68, the overload clutch will slip and thus relieve the mechanismof damaging forces or stresses. Further, by virtue of the yieldablefriction clutch, automatic reestablishment of the zero adjustment of thebalance mechanism is provided for since an overtravel in one directioncausing sliding of the clutch plate 63 relative to the clutch plate hub67 within the limits defined by the limit finger 68 and the stop `lugs69 will be corrected by the opposite reactionary travel of the pinion 62onthe rack 60 during the oscillatory cycle involving the overtravel. Byhaving the rack arm 52 resiliently yieldably biased toward the pinion62, continuous driving engagement is maintained.

In addition to the diverter flag actuating function of the trans-missionmechanism 51, it also functions to control and limit the rotative speedof the drum 15 to a safe optimum speed in the presence of acentricloads, and more particularly during the drying or centrifuging cycle. To.this end, there is provided as an integral extension portion of theinner clutch hub place member 67 a radially projecting cam arm 80,desirably extending in the opposite radial direction from Ithepointer-like limit linger 68. On its free end, the cam arm extension 80has a pair of cam lobes 81 nestably engaging a follower roller 82mounted intermediately on a lever plate 83 having a pivotal connect-ion84 adjacent one end thereof with the mounting plate 29 and carrying onits opposite end portion a valve actuating flange 85. A biasing tensionspring 87, anchored at one end to the mounting plate 29 and at itsopposite end engaging the actuating ange 85, normally biases therockably mounted follower lever toward 4the cam and more particularlyurges the follower roller 82 into the bight betweenV the cam lobes 81.This functions in one respect to tend to center the cam in the zeroadjusted position of the limit finger 68, and as a major functionreturns the valve actuating flange 85 to neutral position relative to avalve stem 88. Depending on `the construction of the machine and thedirection of rotation, the cam lobes I81 may be of an unsymmetricaldesign to allow for the differences in the magnitude of vibration due tothe impact of the clothes on one side yof the drum 15 as describedabove.

While minor vibrations will not cau-se such swinging of the cam arm 80as will motivate the valve actuator operatively, detinite acentric loaddeiiections of the casing 7 to each side of a vertical center linethrough the machine will result in an amplitude of oscillation of thecam arm to cause the respective cam lobes 81 to swing the valve actuator83 downwardly so that .the valve stem 88 is depressed. This results inbleeding 4a conduit 89 leading from a solenoid air valve 90 (FIG. l)communicating by way of a conduit 9,1 with pneumatic clutch meansforming part of a transmission 92 associated with the electrical motor21. The air valve 90 als-o communicates by way of a conduit 93 with acompressor 94. As more fully described in the copending application ofIshoy and Scott, Serial No. 128,070, referred to hereinabove, thisregulates the supply of pressure to the clutch means of the transmission92 and thereby limits the rotation of the basket drum 15 to those speedswhich produce only minimal basket vibrations at a predeterninedamplitude, and concurrently with balancing the rum.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by the present inventionthere has been provided a substantially improved compensator forbalancing mechanism for combination washer-dryers wherein .theauto-matic, selfadjusting clutch in combination with the means forconverting oscillations of the basket drum into correspondingoscillations of the balancing control means, enables prime factoryadjustment of the balancing mechanism iwhich thereafter automaticallycompensates for excessive or potentially damaging motion, and isself-centering, that is, reconditions itself for optimum continuingoperatron.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive proper-ty orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Laundry apparatus including a support, a rotary basket drum and meansmounting the drum on the support providing for limited oscillatingdeflections of the drum relative to the support toward opposite sides ofa center line transversely through the axis of rotation of ,the drum inresponse to acentric loads in the rotating drum,

means for counterbalancing the acentric loads mounted .to oscillate withthe drum,

'and means for automatically cont-rolling the balancing means comprisinga pinion mounted t-o oscillate about its own axis and also to oscillatewith the acentric loading oscillations of the drum and a rack membermounted on a stationary portion of said support and meshing with thepinion to effect on said suppont in a manner to permit limitedoscillations of the casing .responsive to acentr-ic loads in therotating drum, said drum having balancing water receptacles thereon,

means for balancing the drum comprising a balancing -Water controllingmember carried by a shaft pivotallyu mounted on said casing, said shafthaving a pinion,

and means 'for controllingV pivotal movement of said shaft responsive tooscillations of the drum and casing comprising a rack member attached tosaid support'and meshing with said pinion.

3. In a laundry machine including a stationary suppont .and a rotarydrum mounted in a tank casing mounted on said support in a manner topermit limited oscillations of the casing responsive .to acentric loadsin the rotating drum, said drum having balancing Water receptaclesthereon,

means for balancing the drum comprising a balancing water controllingmember carried by a shaft pivotally mounted on said casing, said shafthaving a pinion,

means for controlling pivotal movements of said shaft -responsive tooscillations of the drum and casing comprising a rack member attached tosaid support land meshing with said pinion,

and means mounting saidV rack member against longitudinal movementthereof relative to said suppont but kenabling yieldable pivotalmovement of the rack member.

4. In a laundry machine including a stationary suppont and a rotary drummounted in a tank casing mounted on said support'in a manner to permitlimited oscillations of the casing responsive to acentric loads in therotating drum, said drum having balancing water receptacles thereon,

means for balancing the drum-compressing a balancing f water controllingmember carried by a shaft pivotally mounted on said casing, said shafthaving a pinion,

means for controlling `pivotal movements of said shaft responsive tooscillations of the drum and casing` comprising a rack member attachedt-o said support and meshing with said pinion,

means 'mounting' said rack member against longitudinalmovement thereofrelative to said support but enabling yieldable pivotal move-ment of therack member,

and biasing spring means normally biasing the rackY member into meshingengagement with the pinion.

5. In a laundry machine including a stationary support and a rotarybasket drum for receiving fabrics to be treated,

means. mounting the drumon-the support to accommodate .oscillatingdeflections of the drum as produced by rotation of acentric loads in thedrum,

means for drivingthe drum rotatably, l

means for balancing the drum comprising mechanism a pivoted member,

Vmeansfor limiting pivotal imovement .of theV pivoted member,`

a member mounted on said support,

and motion transmission means connecting said members including anovertravel friction clutch.

6. In a laundry machine including a stationary support anda rotarybasket drum for receiving fabrics to be treated, Y

means mounting the drum on the support to accom- Ymodate oscillatingdeflections of the drum as produced by rotation of acentr-ic loads inthe drum,

mounted to oscillate with the drum and including f means for driving thedrumrotatably, means for balancing the drum comprising mechanism mountedto oscillate with the drum and including and means for controlling thespeed of lrotation of said drum concurrently with balancing of the drumincludinga control element carried by said pivotal member.

7. In a laundry machine including a rotaryV basket` mounted on astationaryy support and drive `means for rotatably actuating the basket,

means mounting the basket on the support to accom-4 Y modate limitedoscillatory movements of the Vbas-y ket as produced by the rotation ofacentric loadsinthe basket, v Y means for counterbalancing the basketincluding mechanism mounted on said mounting means andcomprising apivoted member having means for 'limiting pivotal movement to apredetermined range, an arm mounted on said support projecting intoadjacent relation to said pivoted member but held against oscillationwith the mounting means,

and motion transmission means comprising an over-V travel frictionclutch coupling said pivoted member with said arm for effecting pivotalmovements of the pivoted member -when it moves oscillatably with` thebasket. n 8. A laundry machine as defined `in claim 7,`where in saidmotion transmission friction clutch includes a pinion and said arm has arack portion meshing with said pinion.

9. A laundry machine as defined in claim 7,1wherein said friction clutchincludes a coupling having opposed friction faces and means forYadjusting the pressure of said friction faces against one another.

10. A laundry machine as defined in claim 7, whereinsa-id pivotalmovement limiting means` comprises a limit linger fixed on the pivotedmember. and stop means v rigid with respect to said mounting means andlimiting j the swinging .movements of the finger with the pivotedVmember. 11.A laundry machine as defined in claim 10, wherein said stopmeans include adjusting means for centering the stop means VWith respecttor the finger in a neutral position of the pivoted member...

12. For use 'in' a laundry machine, balancing mechanism'including amount-ing plate, a shaft pivotally mounted through said plate and ryinga flag member on one end, n a stop finger mounted on the opposite end ofthe shaft,U Y stop means on said plate limiting swinging movement ofvthe stop linger with pivoting of .the shaft,

Car-

and transmission means for connecting the shaft toV means forfpivotingthe shaftzand includinga friction' f clutch. 13. For use in arlaundrymachine, balancing mechanism including a mounting plate, a .shaftpivotally mounted through said plate and carrying a flag member on oneend, i

a stop finger mounted on the opposite end of thel y shaft, stop means onsaid'plate limiting swinging movement of the stop finger with pivotingof the shaft,

clutch kmotion transmission `means carried by said other end of theshaft and including a clutch member, a pinion and a rack, said pinionbeing engageable with said rack lfor effecting pivotal movements ofthe..

shaft.

14. Balancing mechanism Yfor laundry apparatus which 9, includes arotary `drum subject to vibratory movements resulting from rotation ofacentric loads and equipped with balancing water receptacles,

means for directing balancing water into the receptacles,

means for controlling delivery of balancing water to the receptacles,

means including pivoted member for controlling said controlling means,

said pivoted member including a limit finger swingable in an arc withpivotal movements of the pivoted member,

means for pivoting the pivoted member responsive t vibratory movementsof the drum requiring balanclng,

and means comprising adjustable spaced stops to limit swinging movementsof the limit finger and thus the amplitude of pivotal movements of saidpivoted member.

15. Balancing mechanism for laundry apparatus which includes a rotarydrum subject to vibratory movements resulting from rotation of acentricloads and equipped with balancing water receptacles,

means for directing balancing water into the receptacles,

means for controlling delivery of balancing water to the receptacles,

means including a pivoted member for controlling said controlling means,

said pivoted member including a limited nger swingable in an arc withpivotal movements of the pivoted member,

means for pivoting the pivoted member responsive to vibratory movementsof the drum requiring balancfing,

means comprising spaced stops to limit swinging movements of the limitfinger and thus the amplitude of pivotal movements of said pivotedmember,

and means for adjusting said stops relative to the limit linger on anarc having its radiusl on the axis of said pivoted member.

16. Laundry apparatus comprising a rotary basket for receiving fabricsto be washed and centrifugally dried and support means therefor anddrive means for the basket,

means mounting said basket on said support means to accommodatevibratory movements of said basket as produced by the rotation ofacentric loads in said basket,

transmission means for said drive means including fluid pressurecontrolling means and a source of fluid pressure,

conduit means interconnecting said source of iluid pressure with thetransmission pressure controlling means,

valve means in said conduit means,

valve actuator means connected to said basket mounting means,

a movable cam pivotally mounted on said mounting means,

reaction means interconnected between said cam and said support meansfor moving said cam in response to vibratory movements of said basket,

said cam including a plurality of lobes engageable with said valveactuator means for actuating said valve means in response to saidvibrations for regulating the supply of pressure to said transmissioncontrolling means and thereby limiting the rotation of said basket tothose speeds which produce only minimal basket vibrations of apredetermined amplitude,

means for counterbalancing said acentric loads in said basket andoperatively -connected to said cam for actuation thereby,

means for limiting the range of operative pivotal movements of the cam,

and overtravel friction disk clutch means between said reaction meansIand said cam.

17. Laundry apparatus comprising a rotary basket for receiving fabricsto be washed and centrifugally dried and support means therefor anddrive means for the basket,

means mounting said basket on said support means to accommodatevibratory movements of said basket as produced by the rotation ofacentric loads in said basket,

transmission means for said drive means including uid pressurecontrolling means and a source of uid pressure,

'conduit means interconnecting said source of fluid pressure with thetransmission pressure controlling means,

valve means in said conduit means,

valve actuator means connected to said basket mounting means,

a movable cam pivotally mounted on said mounting means,

reaction means interconnected between said cam'rand said support meansfor moving said cam in response to vibratory movements of said basket,

said cam including a plurality of lobes engageable with said valveactuator means for actuating said valve means in response to saidvibrations for regulating the supply of pressure to said transmissioncontrolling means land thereby limiting the rotation of said basket tothose speeds which produce only minimal basket vibrations of apredetermined amplitude,

means for limiting the range of pivotal movement of the cam,

and overtravel friction disk clutch means between the reaction means andthe cam.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,151,066 9/1964Brenner et al 210-144 3,151,067 9/1964 Ishoy et al. 210-363 X REUBENFRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. M. RIESS, Assistant Examiner.

1. LAUNDRY APPARATUS INCLUDING A SUPPORT, A ROTARY BASKET DRUM AND MEANSMOUNTING THE DRUM ON THE SUPPORT PROVIDING FOR LIMITED OSCILLATINGDEFLECTIONS OF THE DRUM RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT TOWARD OPPOSITE SIDES OFA CENTER LINE TRANSVERSELY THROUGH THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE DRUM INRESPONSE TO ACENTRIC LOADS IN THE ROTATING DRUM, MEANS FORCOUNTERBALANCING THE ACENTRIC LOADS MOUNTED TO OSCILLATE WITH THE DRUM,AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE BALANCING MEANS COMPRISING APINION MOUNTED TO OSCILLATE WITH THE ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS AND ALSO TOOSCILLATE WITH THE ACENTRIC LOADING OSCILLATIONS OF THE DRUM AND A RACKMEMBER MOUNTED ON A STATIONARY PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT AND MESHING WITHTHE PINION TO EFFECT OSCILLATIONS OF THE PINION ABOUT ITS OWN AXISDURING OSCILLATION MOVEMENTS OF THE PINION WITH THE DRUM.